Wednesday, May 12, 2010

NL King - Starlin Castro is Up.. Who's Next?

So now that Starlin Castro, one of the leagues top prospects, was called up to the show, let's track the progress on the other top prospects in the NL and when we can expect them to be up.

Aroldis Chapman - Cinn - SP - 6 Starts in AAA - 3-1, 2.84 ERA, 1.44 Ratio, 31 2/3 IP, 36K but 18 BB. Chapman is signed to a long term contract so the super 2 status is meaningless in his case which means once the Reds think Chapman is ready he will be up. It's all about the walks with Chapman, he has looked excellent in AAA but too many walks. Once those walks start coming down then Chapman will be in the rotation. Chapman would most likely take Homer Bailey's spot who has been awful.

Mike Stanton - Fla - OF - AA - 103 AB's - 15HR, 33RBI, 28R, 1SB, .340 AVG, .481 OBP. All the Marlins outfielders are struggling and the Marlins could use a middle of the order power bat like Mike Stanton. It certainly looks like this is all about the Marlins waiting out Mike Stanton's super 2 status (this way Stanton does not hit arbitration until after 3 full seasons instead of 2). Come early to mid June the super 2 status will be over and I would imagine Stanton will be up.

Further Away:Pedro Alvarez - Pitt - 3B - Has 7HR & 29 RBI in AAA but hitting .248 with 34Ks. If he can start getting that batting average up and the strikeouts down could be up around the all-star break.Madison Bumgarner - SF - SP - Struggled in the spring and has a 4.97 ERA in AAA. If he can get it going very likely will get called up because SF 5th starter is Todd Wellemeyer.

Jason Castro - Hou - C - Hitting .229 in AAA. If he gets called up this year it will be in the 2nd half.

Logan Morrison - Fla - 1B - Has only played in 12 games because he hurt his shoulder. Probably won't be back playing in AAA until the end of May. Gaby Sanchez has done a nice job so we may not see Morrison until opening day 2011.

Buster Posey - SF - C - In AAA has 5HR, 21 RBI, is hitting .345 with a .436 OBP. Giants could really use his bat the problem is Posey is the Giants catcher of the future and he needs to work on his game behind the plate. Posey can't do that in the majors with Molina around. Posey should be up at some point but and may not be until mid summer. Remember the Giants have to have Posey ready come opening day next year to be their #1 catcher.

Jose Tabata - Pitt - OF - Have to love the .344 batting average & .409 OBP in AAA but just 2HR in 122 AB's. Tabata has a good bat but the Pirates are waiting for him to develop some punch. In 1,973 career minor league AB's Tabata has just 9 HR. Tabata turns 22 in August so he is young but I think the Pirates are going to take it slow with Tabata.